Belgian internal feud blocks EU-Canada trade deal

Brussels

THE European Union's hopes of signing a landmark free trade deal with Canada this week appeared to evaporate on Monday as the Belgian federal government failed to win the consent of French-speaking regional authorities.

European Council President Donald Tusk had given Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel until Monday, three days before the planned signing, to resolve the impasse. But a meeting Mr Michel hosted with leaders of the five sub-federal authorities whose permission he needs to go ahead ended in stalemate.